Editing Pitta (section)

===Sociality and calls===

[[File:Pitta moluccensis - Kaeng Krachan.jpg|thumb|Blue-winged pitta (Pitta moluccensis), Kaeng Krachan, Thailand]]

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| filename    = Blue winged pitta - Pitta moluccensis.ogg
| title       = {{Center|The call of the blue-winged pitta}}
| description = {{center|Recorded in Phuket, Thailand}}
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Pittas are [[Diurnality|diurnal]], requiring light to find their often cryptic prey. They are nevertheless often found in darker areas and are highly secretive, though they will respond to imitations of their calls. They are generally found as single birds, even young birds not associating with their parents unless they are being fed. The only exception to their solitary lifestyle is small groups that have been observed forming during migration.<ref name = "HBW">{{cite journal | first = J. | last = Erritzoe|editor1-last=del Hoyo |editor1-first=Josep |editor2-last=Elliott |editor2-first=Andrew |editor3-last=Sargatal |editor3-first=Jordi |editor4-last=Christie |editor4-first=David A. |editor5-last=de Juana |editor5-first=Eduardo |year=2017 |title=Family Pittidae (Pittas) |journal=Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive |url=http://www.hbw.com/family/pittas-pittidae |publisher=Lynx Edicions |location=Barcelona | doi = 10.2173/bow.pittid1.01| s2cid = 241970288|access-date=11 July 2017 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

The pittas are strongly [[territory (animal)|territorial]], with territories varying in size from {{convert|3000|m2|abbr=on}} in the African pitta to {{convert|10000|m2|abbr=on}} in the rainbow pitta. They have also been found to be highly aggressive in captivity, attacking other species and even their own; such behaviour has not been observed in the wild.{{sfn|Erritzoe|Erritzoe|1998|p=22}} Pittas will perform territory-defence displays on the edges of their territories; fights between rivals have only been recorded once. One such territorial display is given by the rainbow pitta, which holds its legs straight and bows to a rival on the edge of its territory, while making a purring call. Displays like this are paired with calls made out of sight of potential rivals;<ref name="Zimmerman 1995">{{cite journal |last1= Zimmerman |first1=Udo|title=Displays and postures of the Rainbow Pitta and other Australian Pittas|journal=Australian Bird Watcher |date=1995|volume=16|issue=4|pages=161–164|url= https://www.birdlife.org.au/afo/index.php/afo/article/view/308|url-access=subscription}}</ref> these territorial calls are frequent and can account for up to 12% of a bird's daylight activity.<ref name="HANZAB Rainbow">{{cite book|editor1-last=Higgins|editor1-first=P.J. |editor2-last=Peter|editor2-first=J.M.|editor3-last=Steele|editor3-first=W.K.|title=Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 5: Tyrant-flycatchers to Chats|date=2001| pages = 117–125 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Melbourne|isbn=978-0-19-553258-6}}</ref> Migratory species will defend non-breeding feeding territories as well as their breeding ones.<ref name = "HBW"/>

The [[bird vocalization|vocalisations]] of pittas are best described as calls, as they are generally short, mono or disyllabic, and often fluting or whirring. They are made by both sexes and throughout the year.<ref name = "HBW"/> One species, the black-and-crimson pitta, was also described making a mechanical noise (sonation) in 2013. The sonation, a clapping sound, was made in flight and is hypothesised to be made by the wings.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pegan |first1=Teresa |last2=Hruska |first2=Jack |last3=M. Hite |first3=Justin |title=A newly described call and mechanical noise produced by the Black-and-crimson Pitta ''Pitta ussheri'' |journal=Forktail |date=2013 |volume=29 |pages=160–162 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283476740}}</ref>